Vivid Doors Most cats are independent, free spirited and adventurous. They don’t like being stuck indoors all day, and would much prefer to be able to explore the outside world and come and go as they please. Installing a cat flap will make life a lot easier for you as a cat owner, because you won’t need to worry about letting your feline friend in and out during the day.
Tools Needed
- Pencil
- Tape measure
- Ruller
- Drill
- Screwdriver (Phillips)
- Sand paper
- File
- Jig saw
- Set Square
- Safety glasses
Time Required
Installing a cat flap kit takes approximately one hour.
Step By Step Instructions
1. Firstly, measure the belly height of your cat, and mark that height on the door.
2. Use a set square and a ruler to draw a rectangle starting from the line on the door. The rectangle marks the outer edges of the cat flap. Check the measurements of the rectangle carefully and make sure you are happy with the position of the cat flap.
3. Put on your safety glasses, and drill a hole through the door at each corner of the rectangle.
4. Carefully use your jig saw to cut from corner to corner, creating a rectangular hole in the door.
5. Sand the wood so that the edges are nice and smooth.
6. If necessary, remove the cat flap’s blanking plugs, and then place the cat flap up against the door. Make sure that the lock on the flap is located on the inside of the door.
7. Use your pencil to mark the areas where the cat flap’s screw holes are.
8. Remove the cat flap, and carefully screw holes to into the door, then replace the cat flap and screw it into place. Cover the screw holes with blanking plates for a professional looking finish.
Important Dos and Don’ts
Do: Measure the thickness of your door before installing the cat flap. The flap itself should fit any door, but you may need to purchase longer screws to secure the flap if your door is unusually thick.
Do: Install the flap on the hinge-side of the door. This prevents would-be intruders from being able to reach the latch of the door via the flap.
Don’t: Leave your keys within reach of the cat flap once it is installed. Having a cat flap fitted should not affect your insurance policy, but if your home is broken into and there is no sign of forced entry, the insurer may be within their rights to refuse to pay out if they have reason to believe that you were negligent and the burglar was able to reach your keys or otherwise access your home via the cat flap.
Don’t: Install a large dog flap. Small cat flaps are not a security risk, but similar designs aimed at people with large dogs can increase your insurance premiums, because it is possible for small thieves to enter your property using them.
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shanafin/
